Slows Bar BQ image

Slows Bar BQ

Restaurant Bar Catering service Barbecue restaurant

One of the Most Reviewed Bars in Detroit


Address

2138 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216

Website

slowsbarbq.com

Contact

(313) 962-9828

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (4.9K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: good (23) great (19) cheese (15) sweet (12) sauce (10) amazing (10) recommend (10) fries (9) service (9) brisket (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Yoly L. 1 year ago on Google
    Where do I begin!!!!! Place is clean, staff is friendly. Ribs on the dryer side but that’s how I like them so to me they were perfect with their SC mustard sauce. Waffle fries with cheese excellent. Taste like real creamy cheese. Baked beans out of this world. Not to sweet just the perfect balance. Mac and Cheese my sons favorite Carrot cake first time I’ve had such a good carrot cake,moist, and Not to sweet so for me perfect, icing had a hint of cream cheese. Burger was good. Kids wouldn’t be disappointed. Chef added some lettuce for my son. This place is a little gem. Pull on the Wooden door to get in. I tried 3 different doors. 😂
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chelsea B. 3 years ago on Google
    It doesn’t get any better for barbecue in Michigan than Slows. From the beautiful wooden interior to the amazing atmosphere at the bar, it’s an easy go to for any night. Heads up: They’re open Thursday-Sunday. Pro tip...sweet barbecue sauce is where it’s at 👍🏾
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Mark S. 2 years ago on Google
    Okay, service was fantastic. The brisket was good, not great, but I've had Franklin's of Austin. The chicken was a tad dry, and the pulled pork was good with the sauce. The stand out was the ribs. They were excellent! Also, get the waffle fries with the cheese sauce. The cheese sauce was amazing. The carrot cake was also incredible.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 DAVID L. M. 1 year ago on Google
    Still great restaurant to eat in...near Ford's refurbishing of historic Train Station. Ford redoing entire area... Menu has great selections.... If you get Waffle fries covered in premium cheese - you must ask for extra extra crispy waffle fries or you get under cooked fries made mushier when topped with cheese.. one portion serves two ... had great waiter.. I had pulled Pork Sandwich - which I made open faced and Waffle fries w/ cheeses...enough for two...
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michael S. 2 years ago on Google
    Awesome lunch, walked in and sat down immediately, no wait. Instant service, menus, drinks, took our order and the food was out fast. Pulled pork and brisket was fresh and tasty. 1/2 rack was a little dry and tough.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Paul G. 8 months ago on Google
    Great bbq in a nice woody setting. Great service. The only issue with this place is the front entrance! You go under the sign and there is a piece of paper taped to the glass that says entrance is wooden door to the right. After trying several doors that did not open I saw someone inside signal to me and brought me to a wood wall that was a well disguised door. For the 15 minutes I was waiting for the rest of my party I watched out the window and let in 3 different bewildered parties who could not find the door either.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Quyet L. 8 months ago on Google
    Let’s start with that secrete door entrance that takes everyone by surprise… more than one person fumbled alone the doors that didn’t work before discovering the wooden wall to enter this BBQ Speakeasy. The ambiance is that of a rustic modern feel. Comfort and cozy. The service is pleasant and the BBQ is overall solid. Ribs were of significant note; crispy, flavorful; wish it could be a little more moist on the inside. The brisket was very thick cut - they don’t skimp. The chopped brisket was likely my favorite. They even have vegetable BBQ. Just a solid, fun place.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Rick B. 7 months ago on Google
    Slow’s is great. I have only encountered one bad experience in all my times of coming here. A group of previous coworkers went out to celebrate my birthday early and the service was excellent! I also tried the Beef Hot Link and it was one of the best sausages I have tried at any barbecue place. I highly recommend.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Morteza T. 2 years ago on Google
    Beef brisket was amazing! Add a few drops of NC sauce to Apple sauce and enjoy a perfect combination (not too sweet 👍🏻). Cornbread is a must!! Went there on a Saturday afternoon and immediately got seated. Excellent service!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 cory r. 1 year ago on Google
    This place I have to say is amazing the atmosphere is great the staff was cool and the wait times were not long for how busy it was. I recommend the sampler plater that had like 3 meats. The eagle fries and Mac and cheese was also delicious! I highly recommend this place.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Denise S. 2 years ago on Google
    Returned post pandemic and was just as delicious as I remembered. Our server was fabulous. He came within minutes of us being seated, took our drink orders, came back not longer after and took our meal orders. Our food came out not long after and everything was yum, yum. 😋 Still 5 stars 🤩
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jailyn T. 9 months ago on Google
    Travelled all the way from Canada just to eat here. The absolute best bbq place I’ve ever had. My family loved it. The options are amazing, prices are unbelievable affordable for such good quality. Service was great, we didn’t go without, my drink never went empty. I highly recommend this place to anyone in & out of the country if you want to try some delicious food for a great price followed by friendly service this is the place!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Logan R. 5 months ago on Google
    I was very impressed by the BBQ at the downtown Detroit location. Excellent flavor and portions. Brisket quality was impressive.do yourself a favor and get some Mac and cheese.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Devin M. 7 months ago on Google
    Amazing BBQ place! Tons of different barbecue options to choose from. Their American Dream sandwich was amazing! Hands down one of the best sandwiches I have had. The baked beans were also amazing. They have tons of different beer options to choose from as well. The price is a little on the higher side but you can expect that for great food. I would definitely recommend this place time after time!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Eddie S. 1 year ago on Google
    Great local place to grab lunch with colleagues or clients. I've had three business lunches here and the food, service, and atmosphere have been great every time. "The Reason" sandwich is absolutely delicious and I would say that it is almost too much sandwich for most people to handle in one sitting... so be careful. The atmosphere is low key and the servers do a great job of checking in and topping off drinks while being pretty low key as well.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rachael D. 1 year ago on Google
    Had The Reason with all the sauces, sweet potato mash, coleslaw and baked beans. Great services and atmosphere. Solid BBQ, great place to eat. Get your table reserved today.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Marc F. 2 years ago on Google
    This place was amazing. BBQ was great, bar was amazing, seating was good. Ordered the big three last night and I wanted to come back for lunch today because it was so good. Bourbon on the bar was well priced. Service was impeccable. Overall for the food the big three was good. order was brisket, chicken, then pulled pork. The sauces were good but even better once paired with the food. Favorites were mustard, apple, and nc. They take reservations and it would probably be a good idea to get one. Also the front door is disguised. Don't be confused when walking up. Lastly the parking enforcement is aggressive. Be careful when parking.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Eric H. 2 years ago on Google
    Good BBQ. Not so much fan of vinegar based bbq sauces, but the plain dry rubbed pulled pork sandwich was delicious. Service was ok. Clean restaurant. Waiter didn't know a thing on the menu or how to describe the taste. But the food was great. Highly recommend!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rachel's Music G. 2 years ago on Google
    Holy Moly! A place that everyone has options?!? Hubby was able to east his weight in the best meat in town, while I was able to have an incredible vegan and gluten free BBQ sandwich. This is a place that you walk in, and waddle out. Incredible food and drinks, and so close to downtown. One of my favorites!!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tara. Quicken Time T. 2 years ago on Google
    If you have been to Detroit and haven't gone to Slows you are missing out. Slows Bar BQ is amazing and it has an awesome bar in it. The restaurant is nice and I recommend you should always, I mean always, get the mac n cheese with whatever you get. I've got the platters with all meat, or when I go I'll pick just one depending what I feel like that day but everything is wonderful- cornbread, great beans, you name it. I love Slows and I hope they are around for next 100 plus
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ángel R. 2 years ago on Google
    Delicious! I ordered The Big Three; everything was so tasty, and the BBQ sauces were all really good. I also ordered the mac-n-chesse, and the crusty cheese at the top was really good. The service was good too. I recommend this place 100%
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Erinn G. 2 years ago on Google
    Okay - this mac and cheese was unbelievable! So good! Honestly, everything we ordered was delicious! I can't wait to go back! Eat here -- you will not be disappointed.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kelli A. 1 year ago on Google
    Food was great! Though sweet potato mash is just ok. Highly recommend getting a piece of carrot cake- Satisfied my sweet tooth but it wasn’t overly sweet. Would recommend.

  • 4/5 Rana S. 2 years ago on Google
    I got The Texan with waffle fries. The Texan was good and juicy but fatty. The waffle fries were good. Friendly staff and clean place. There are a few parking spots in front but if you’re planning to go on a weekend you might need to park somewhere else and walk there.

  • 5/5 Holly K. 2 years ago on Google
    Ribs were good. They have 6 different barbecue sauces. I really liked the apple one. The Mac and cheese was good. I also really liked the sweet potato mash.

  • 4/5 Michael Y. 5 months ago on Google
    Enjoyed my dinner. Ribs were very good and mac & cheese was tasty. The barbecue chicken wings very good. Only thing I did not like was the broccoli salad for has a side.

  • 5/5 darrin r. 2 years ago on Google
    Came from Memphis for the Yardbird & was not disappointed! Friendly staff, great outdoor patio with repurposed tables & decor. Apple bbq sauce is sweet and good! Yardbird sandwich very filling & tasty. Upper priced but glad I got it. Wife likes her mashed sweet potatoes as a side. Simple but nice. This was on my Detroit visit did list & glad it was.

  • 5/5 Kevin J. 2 years ago on Google
    Let me tell you about this gem of a place. If you're ever in Detroit for a meal you need to stop by this place. Authentic BBQ here in the north. The brisket is great and the pulled park is juicy and flavorful. Don't even start me on the sauces.... but they do their own take on an apple based BBQ sauce that will make you want to drink the stuff. Then if you have time and room for dessert try the carrot cake..... it's top shelf.

  • 5/5 Amanda C. 2 years ago on Google
    Great bbq and great drinks. Love sitting on their super cute patio. Food is good. Always order the Mac and cheese. Never have to wait for a table and parking if fairly easy

  • 5/5 Ike S. 7 months ago on Google
    One of my favorite BBQ places in all of the US! I went back here after like 8 years and it didn't disappoint. Their apple BBQ sauce is really good - just sweet enough to be lip smacking.


Call (313) 962-9828 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free street parking
    • ✓️ Paid street parking
    • ✓️ Somewhat difficult to find a space
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Happy hour drinks
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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